From January 1, Guiyang City, the capital of southwestern Guizhou Province, will impose China's first ban on the abortion of fetuses more than 14 weeks old.

The move aims to control consistently lopsided male-female ratios amongst newborns, according to a top Guiyang official.

Medical facilities or doctors violating the ban will face fines of up to 30,000 yuan (US$3,600) or have their medical licenses suspended, according to the new regulations.

Pharmaceutical firms will also be banned from selling abortion medications to hospitals or doctors not licensed to conduct them.

The gender of a fetus can usually be judged using modern medical devices about 14 weeks into pregnancy, since the fetus begins to grow external sexual organs at around 12 weeks.

Abortion for women more than 14 weeks into pregnancy will be allowed if the fetus is proved to have a genetic disfigurement or disease, or if the life or health of the mother is endangered. In these cases, the mother may apply to the county-level family planning administration for special permission.

Authorities will confiscate illegal income from hospitals or doctors who have illegally conducted fetus gender assessment or abortion. Fines will also be imposed, depending on the sum of the illegal income.

Violators will be fined a sum three to six times illegal income over 5,000 yuan (US$604). For illegal income of less than 5,000 yuan, violators will be fined between 5,000-30,000 yuan, according to the regulation.

Currently, the Ministry of Health guidelines recommend against terminations beyond 24 weeks but there are no set time limits in law.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)